Where Did The Time Go?

Summer is starting to come to an end. It amazes me how time flies. I didn't realize that I had let so much time go by since my last post. Since our trip to Italy, so much has happened. Savanna performed in the children's opera, "Brundibar" (go to facebook for pictures). Charles and I attended summer camp with the Legionaries (Charles as a camper, Me as a cook.)

Savanna finally got to go on her "Grandpa and Grandma" trip. She has waited years for her turn for that one. She spent 4 days in San Diego with her grandparents and cousin Bailey.

We all just spent a few days at a wedding in New Hampshire and a few days in New York City. Definitely a trip to remember. Other than that, the summer has been quiet.

This summer has been the season of growing around here! I think they have grown just as much this summer as they did as toddlers. Charles has finally shot up taller than Mom. He is quite proud of this and lets me know often. They are both growing into a young lady and a young gentleman. Don't know if I'm ready for this!

Pics from Italy

While wandering through St Peter's, I noticed that many people were using flash photography. I was surprised, since I know that the flash is bad for paintings and frescoes. When I asked Father about it, he replied, "Are you sure they are frescoes?" I replied quite confidently, "Yeah." He just gave me a look and walked away. I was pretty sure until I took a closer look. I was blown away! All the beautiful art and pictures in St Peter's are mosaics!!! I looked at over 10 - 15 pictures and thought they were paitings! The detail is incredible and even when I was fairly close to the mosaic, it was hard to tell. On the left is one of these incredible pieces of art! Truly something to be marveled.








While visiting the Vatican Museum, I photographed this mummy for Charles. I caught him with his heart still beating!











Something you will never see here in the States! As you walk around town, throughout Italy, in the most random places, you will see little

shrines, statues, frescoes and paintings of

religious art! I just loved looking for these. When I spotted them, I felt that I was being watched over by the particular person being depicted. Some have been there for hundreds of years.

The one of the left was on a building that we passed by every time we walked down a little side street to Father Avram's.

This fresco faced a little piazza in front of the Pantheon.

I thought this was just too cool not to take a picture! This is a window display for a store. Look carefully, they even sell the mitre for bishops. We saw a few of these walking through Rome. The window on the other side of the shop entrance had Ordinary time displayed in green. Rumor has it that there are store fronts like this one with habits for religious sisters. I didn't get a chance to see any of those.













The view from the top of the dome at St Peter's. 551 steps up and 551 steps down!

Grazie...

Thanks to all that kept us in prayer while we were away. The blessings were many and we had a safe and wonderful time.

We are arrived home safe and sound late Mon night. I can't believe that it's over. It is amazing how one day you are in one place and the next you are thousands of miles away some where else. The ride home was long and tiring. What an adventure!

Thank you God for showing us your greatness through the many Saints, the beautiful Churches and the wonderful people we met on our pilgrimage. Thank you God, for all the many blessings, big and very small, that you poured out on us while we were travelling. Thank you God for our incredible tour guide and friend that took the time to show us around, even when he wasn't feeling well.

God Bless us all.

One Last Look

Our final day in Rome started with the most beautiful Holy Mass I have ever attended! We celebrated Holy Mass with about 30 priests concelebrating in the chapel at the Casa where Father Avram lives. It was just incredible! Our family was the congregation. I love listening to them sing and pray in unison.

After Holy Mass, we decided that we needed to have a Pope's Lunch in Rome, so off we went for pizza. We decided we would get gelato later along the way, so we headed to the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls. We next visited the Basilica of St John Lateran and the Church where St Charles' heart is displayed. Throughout our trip, we were able to visit all the saints that we set out to visit! Mission accomplished.

Returning to our hotel, we were surprised that we were able to pack all the clothes back along with all the items we gathered along the way. We were packed tight, but we did it. After a little siesta, we caught up with Father Avram and his friend, for our final meal in Italy. I will truly miss the excellent food!

We met many people on this journey. One of our new friends is Fr Miro, from Croatia. The kids loved him (we did too.) Keep him and all the priests at the Casa in your prayers! God Bless.

T-2 Days

Well, we're just about done here in Italy. We have had a great
pilgrimage and journey.

Friday found us on the road for a big chunk of the day. We drove from
Venice to Rome. That was about a 5 hour drive. The Italian contryside
is just beautiful; the medieval towns perched on the hills are
something we don't see in the States. We have come to know Italian
fast food from being on the road. I wish American fast food was this
good!

Today, Sat, we toured the Vatican. We visited the Vatican museum,
which included the Sistine Chapel, climbed to the top of the dome (551
steps up and down) and then to the crypt below the Basilica, to pray
before the tombs of St Peter and Pope John Paul II.

This evening, Mike prepared dinner for a few of Fr Avram's friends at
the Casa and for Brothers Colin and Sean from the Legionries of Christ
Seminary. We did our best creating Mexican food with the ingredients
we could find in the store. It was like looking for barbacue sauce in
Mexico. Have you ever tried to make refried beans with Italian
beans? Well, Mike pulled it off. The two Mexican priests were content.

Tomorrow, we have two major Basilicas and St Charles to visit. It
amazes me that we have been here for just under two weeks and we still
haven't seen everything! We definitely need to come back!

One more day and we will be on our way home. Thank you for your
prayers and please continue to keep us in your prayers. God bless.

Sent from my iPhone

Where are the Straights?

Yesterday we visited the patron saint of our family, St Anthony of
Padua. To pray at his tomb was very powerful. We arrived in Venice in
the late afternoon and had dinner in town. Today we took the ferry and
cruised the Grand Canal to St Mark's Square and Basilica. The square was
flooded and there was a labyrinth of raisesd walk ways to get to the
Basilica. We wondered around town and stumbled upon this store full
of Carnaval masks.

Thanks to you all for your prayers! Keep them up. God bless.

Mmm...mmm...good

Hot chocolate Italian style. Welcomed after a chilly stroll along the
Ligurian Sea. Can't wait to show you all the photos (+600). God bless.